Minister MacKay Participates in the Munich Security Conference

Sun Feb 3, 2013 9:00am EST

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Feb 03 (MARKET WIRE) --
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, today
concluded his participation in the 49th Munich Security Conference, which
took place from February 1 to 3, 2013 in Germany.
The Munich Security Conference is a premier forum where world leaders,
ministers, parliamentarians, government officials, senior military
officers, academics, journalists, and other security experts meet to
exchange views on current international security issues and concerns.
"Presenting a Canadian voice and Canada's positions on international
security matters at a premier security conference is integral to the
success of our foreign policy and security objectives," stated Minister
MacKay. "This conference provides a unique opportunity to remind our
allies, our partners, and the international security community what
Canada brings to the table and furthers our defence and security
priorities. I am proud to once again participate in this important
conference and share Canadian perspectives on key issues such as Mali and
Syria."
Alongside Minister MacKay, prominent international participants included
Wolfgang Ischinger, Ambassador, Chairman, Munich Security Conference;
Thomas de Maiziere, Federal Minister of Defence, Germany; Minister for
Defence Ng Eng Hen, Singapore; Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for
Defence, United Kingdom; and U.S. Senator John McCain, Ranking Member of
the Senate Armed Services Committee and Member of the Senate Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
During the conference, Minister MacKay engaged in a series of bilateral
meetings with key counterparts from around the world,as well as in a
meeting with the U.S Congressional delegation of Senators and
Congresspeople headed by Senator John McCain, to discuss ongoing
challenges in international security and defence to advance Canadian
interests. He also participated in a discussion panel entitled: "Does
Responsibility to Protect Have a Future?"
Similar to the Halifax International Security Forum, the Munich Security
Conference provides Canada with an opportunity to demonstrate our
leadership in international security, whether it be through our
longstanding transatlantic Alliance relationships or our growing
engagement in the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information on the Munich Conference on Security, please consult
the following link: http://www.securityconference.de and the following
backgrounder: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-
eng.asp?id=4617.
Please consult the following link to read Minister MacKay's comments
during the conference: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-n
ouvelles-eng.asp?id=4616.
Contacts:
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca
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